Spatial ecology and movements of wintering White-fronted geese

Pratik Gupte

IMAE: CAU Kiel + Uni Comibra + Uni Poitiers & MPIO Radolfzell

Supervised by: Andrea Kölzsch (MPIO), Kees Koffijberg (SOVON) & Stefan Garthe (FTZ-CAU Kiel)

What are geese?

  • Large, terrestrial birds
  • Herbivorous, often grazers
  • Many species live in families
  • Undertake impressive migrations

Animal migration

  • Biannual population movement
  • Different population classes may migrate differently
  • May be instinctive or learned.

Geese in Europe: Current Trends

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  • Mostly migratory
  • Large increases since 1960s: conservation & crops1

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1 Fox & Madsen 2017

Geese in Europe: Challenges

  • Conflict with agriculture1,2
  • Range expansion1,2
  • Change in migration patterns3
  • Much data, less analysis

1 Fox & Madsen 2017, 2 Koffijberg et al. 2017, 3 van der Jeugd et al. 2009

What is the role of families in spatio-temporal population patterns of geese wintering in the Netherlands, Belgium, and northern Germany?

Which goose?

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Death by Data

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What data?

  • Counts of observed flocks (Russia & Holland)
  • Observations of neck-banded geese
  • Observations of geese flying overhead
  • GPS tracking of 19 individuals from Russia
  • GPS tracking of 13 families (64 birds) in Holland
  • Weather data from KNMI and DWD

Thanks Due

  • Andrea Kölzsch (MPIO)
  • Kees Koffijberg (SOVON)
  • Stefan Garthe (FTZ - CAU Kiel)
  • Kamran Safi (MPIO)
  • Jennifer Golbol (MPIO)
  • Gerhard Müskens (WUR)
  • Peter Glazov (IG-RAS)
  • Wilhelm Windhorst (CAU Kiel)
  • Joana Alves (UC)
  • Esteban Suarez (USFQ)
  • Emilie Valier-Brasier (UP)
  • Freddie-Jeanne Richard (UP)

Thanks for your time

Questions?

Pratik Gupte

International Master in Applied Ecology

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel + Universidade de Coimbra + Université de Poitiers +

Department of Migration & Immuno-ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology.